Display control system

ABSTRACT

Among screen data in which screens for displaying sets of application information generated by a plurality of application units (30-60) in a normal display form are drawn and screen data in which screens for displaying the sets of application information in a simplified display form are drawn, screen data with the screen for normal display is selected for the application data matched to an intended-use of each display device, and screen data with the screen for simplified display is selected for the application data unmatched to the intended use of each display device, to thereby generate based on these selected screen data, display-screen data for each display device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display control system having aplurality of display devices, which uses individual screen datagenerated by a plurality of application units to thereby generate screendata with a screen layout corresponding to each of the plurality ofdisplay devices to be displayed thereon.

BACKGROUND ART

With respect to in-vehicle systems, there has been enhanced an equipmentrate in vehicles of in-vehicle information devices such as carnavigations, TV tuners, media players and the like. Also, in recentyears, diversifications have been made in various applications forsafety and security that use a kind of sensor such as a camera, anelectric-wave radar or the like, so that necessary information for adriver and a fellow passenger is presented to them through a displaydevice of the in-vehicle information device by cooperating such anapplication and the in-vehicle information device.

Further, since a wide variety of information becomes obtainable inassociation with progress of in-vehicle network technology, vehicleinformation can be acquired that includes information from thein-vehicle information device, in addition to basic information havingconventionally been displayed in a form of vehicle meter, such as avehicle speed, an engine revolution number, a shift state, a fuelresidual amount and the like. Furthermore, with respect also to thedisplay devices themselves, not only conventional warning indicatorsbased on mechanical meters and LED lightings but also in-vehicle displaydevices using fluorescent display tubes or LED panels, have becomepopular. Thus, by combining them to construct an informationpresentation system, it is able to also display other information thanthe basic vehicle information. As just described, diversifications havebeen made also in meter display apparatuses for presentation to thedriver.

In the conventional meter display apparatuses, an application for meterdisplay generates display-screen data to thereby display it on a displaydevice dedicated for meter display. Meanwhile, in the in-vehicleinformation devices, a plurality of applications individually generaterespective display-screen data and any one of these data is displayed ina replaceable manner when specified through an operation by the driveror a fellow passenger or depending on the fact as a trigger thatpredetermined vehicle information is acquired. in this manner,conventionally, respective displays by the meter display apparatus andthe in-vehicle information device are usually independent to each other.

However, in recent years, in order to diversify the presentableinformation to the driver and a fellow passenger, there are proposeddisplay systems each capable of mutually replacing/combining the meterdisplay and the display by the in-vehicle information device.

For example, in Patent Document 1, there is disclosed a display controlapparatus that applies image processing, respectively, on display datafor the meter generated by a graphic display controller (GDC) for avehicle system, display data for a car navigation, a DVD playback, a TV,an audio application and the like generated by a GDC for an amenitysystem, and display data of a variety of sensors generated by a GDC fora safety system, to thereby display them on an LCD panel mounted in aninstrument panel (hereinafter, abbreviated as “IN-PANE”).

Note that, in the display control apparatus described in Patent Document1, the meter display data is generated by controlling the GDC usingvehicle information from a powertrain-system electronic control unit(ECU) and a body-system ECU that are connected to an in-vehicle localarea network (LAN). Further, image-output control data such as sizes ofrespective images in a meter-display screen and a screen layout thereofare transmitted from a processor mounted in the vehicle system throughan in-vehicle LAN of another line than that of the ECUs. Other thanthis, with respect also to the amenity system and the safety system,image-output control data for the display screen generated by theirrespective GDCs are transmitted similarly from the processor in theamenity system and the processor in the safety system though the samein-vehicle LAN.

A micro-controller for a display platform (DPF) in the display controlapparatus in Patent Document 1 evaluates the respective image-outputcontrol data and the state of the vehicle that are received through thein-vehicle LANs, to thereby respectively and properly locate the displaydata generated by the GDCs of the respective systems on the LCD panel ofthe instrument panel. In such a manner, by generating the display datafor image display in a shared manner by the processors in the respectivesystems, the stability of screen display is improved.

Meanwhile, in Patent Document 2, there is disclosed a display systemthat is mounted in a drivable moving object to thereby display pluralsets of information including information of the moving object,individually in the screens corresponding to the respective sets ofinformation and provided on a plurality of display panels. In thisdisplay system, the display panels are each capable of displaying atleast one screen, and there are included display screen control sectionsprovided for the respective display panels so as to generate the displaydata for said at least one screen in each of the display panels, and asingle display selecting section that selects the screen to be displayedon each of the display panels on the basis of the plural sets ofinformation including information of the moving object.

Namely, in the display system in Patent Document 2, there are included aplurality of blocks each equivalent to the display control apparatus inPatent Document 1, and for example, at the front seat or rear seat sidein the vehicle, each display data generated by the processors of therespective systems is displayed on each display device.

However, when the same information is to be displayed respectively on aplurality of display devices mounted in the vehicle, in many cases, thisinformation is adequate to be displayed in each display form (displaycontent or display method) suited to each user watching the displaydevice.

Further, since the display form suited to the user watching the displaydevice possibly changes depending also on a vehicle traveling condition,there may be also cases, depending on a state of that change, where theuser's visibility is deteriorated, resulting in a bothersome display.

CITATION LIST Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.2008-239145

Patent Document 2: International Patent Application Publication No.2007/122763

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the conventional arts represented by Patent Documents 1, 2,information necessary for the driver and a fellow passenger is presentedto them by combining the respective display data generated by theapplications of the respective systems according to the vehicletraveling condition, etc.

However, according to the conventional arts, there is a problem that theinformation is not presented in a display form well-suited to a targetperson viewing the display device.

For example, in a vehicle provided with a meter display device that isplaced in the instrument panel and a display device that is placed atthe center of the front side of the front seat, a car navigation screenin which route-guide information is overlapped on a map screen isdisplayed usually on the display device placed at the center of thefront side of the front seat. That is, since it is required duringtraveling of the vehicle to focus on its driving, a position of the hostvehicle and its traveling route are confirmed by the fellow passenger onthe assistant driver's seat, or by the driver when instead the vehicleis stopping, by watching the display device placed at the center of thefront side of the front seat.

Meanwhile, even during traveling of the vehicle, there are cases wherethe driver wants to confirm the route-guide information. In those cases,as viewed from the driver, a movement of his/her eyes is smaller thusmaking it possible to reduce its influence on the driving, when theroute-guide information is displayed on the display device placed in theinstrument panel than when displayed on the display device placed at thecenter of the front side of the front seat.

The display device placed in the instrument panel is required, since itstarget user is the driver, to present a content of meter-display to thedriver during traveling of the vehicle, so that when a car navigationscreen is to be displayed thereon, it is necessary to be located in anempty area other than an area for the meter display. Thus, in PatentDocuments 1, 2, a map screen for car navigation is displayed as a smallscreen.

However, merely converting the car navigation screen into a small screenwould rather deteriorate the visibility, thus causing a possibility thatthe driver focuses too much on watching the small screen to getdistracted from driving. In this case, in order that the driver canwatch instantly, it is better that the route-guide information bedisplayed in a simplified manner.

Note that if the vehicle is stopping, since it is not required topresent a display of the meter such as a vehicle speed etc. , to thedriver, it is possible to display a car navigation screen also in thearea in which the meter is to be displayed during traveling of thevehicle, and also possible for the driver to perform a car navigationoperation on the basis of that screen. In this case, displaying the carnavigation screen in a simplified manner deteriorates the operability,and thus displaying it as a normal full-screen is preferable.

Meanwhile, as viewed from the fellow passenger on the assistant driver'sseat, it is easier to watch the meter information indicative of avehicle traveling condition such as a vehicle speed etc., when suchinformation is displayed on the display device placed at the center ofthe front side of the front seat than when he/she looks deep into thedisplay panel placed in the instrument panel. In this case, the fellowpassenger on the assistant driver's seat is not required to know atransition of the vehicle traveling condition in response to the drivingoperation by the driver, and is only required to confirm the vehicletraveling condition (for example, the vehicle speed, etc.) at that time.Thus, on the display device placed at the center of the front side ofthe front seat, it is not necessary to make a meter display similar tothat on the display device placed in the instrument panel by downscalingthe car navigation screen, the audio-playback operation screen or thevideo display screen for DVD playback or TV, and it is sufficient thatthe vehicle traveling condition be displayed in a simplified manner.

As described above, even in the case of displaying the same information,if such a display form is applied that takes into account visibility orsafety according to the target user of each display device, the vehicletraveling condition and the operation by the user, it would be possibleto achieve improving usability for the driver and the fellow passenger.

This invention has been made to solve the problems as described above,and an object thereof is to achieve a display control system that canpresent information in a display form well-suited to the target userwatching the display device.

Means for Solving the Problems

A display control system according to the invention is a display controlsystem for displaying screens of a plurality of application units on aplurality of display devices mounted in a moving object, which ischaracterized by comprising: an image processor that inputs screen datain which screens for displaying sets of application informationgenerated by the plurality of application units in a normal display formare drawn, and screen data in which screens for displaying the sets ofapplication information in a simplified display form are drawn, tothereby generate display-screen data for each of the display devices,using the screen data in which the screens for displaying in the normaldisplay form are drawn and the screen data in which the screens fordisplaying in the simplified display form are drawn; a display outputdriver that outputs the display-screen data generated by the imageprocessor to corresponding one of the display devices to be displayedthereon; and a controller that, based on information indicating theapplication information corresponding to each of the display devices,determines whether or not the application information corresponds to thedisplay device, among these screen data, selects for the applicationinformation matched to the display device, screen data in which thescreen for displaying in the normal display form is drawn, and selectsfor the application information unmatched to the display device, screendata in which the screen for displaying in the simplified display formis drawn, followed by controlling based on these selected screen data tocause the image processor to generate the display-screen data for saideach of the display devices.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention, such an effect is provided that theinformation can be presented in a display form well-suited to the targetuser watching the display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display controlsystem according to Embodiment 1 of the preset invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of screen data generated by ameter application unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of screen data generated by acar-navigation application unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of screen data generated by an AVapplication unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of screen data generated by asensor application unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a communication format ofscreen-display information transmitted from an application unit to animage integration control microcomputer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the screen data of FIG. 2 and sizes ofrespective screens therein.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an intended-use correspondencelist.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a communication format ofscreen-display information transmitted from the image integrationcontrol microcomputer to an application unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image integrationcontrol microcomputer.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen output of a displaydevice placed in an instrument panel.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of the screen output of thedisplay device placed in the instrument panel.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen output of a displaydevice placed at a center of the front side of a front seat.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of a screen output of thedisplay device placed at the center of the front side of the front seat.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display controlsystem according to Embodiment 2 of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a communication format ofdisplay-screen data transmitted from an image transmission processor toan image transmission receiver of each of display devices.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, for illustrating this invention in more detail, embodimentsfor carrying out the invention will be described with reference to thedrawings.

Embodiment 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display controlsystem according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. The display controlsystem according to Embodiment 1 is such a system that is installed in amoving object (for example, a vehicle) so as to display screens of aplurality of application units 30-60 on display devices 20, 21 placed inthe moving object, and which is configured with an image integrationunit 10, the display devices 20, 21, a meter application unit 30, acar-navigation application unit 40, an AV application unit 50 and asensor application unit 60. Note that, in the example of FIG. 1, thedisplay control system is assumed to be a system that is installed in avehicle. Further, in the example of FIG. 1, although a case is shownwhere the screens are displayed on the two display devices 20, 21, thisinvention is also applicable to when a number of the display devices arethree or more.

The image integration unit 10 is a control unit that executes mainprocessing of the display control system according to Embodiment 1, andis configured with an image integration control microcomputer 100, animage integration processor 110 and a display output controller 120. Theimage integration control microcomputer 100 is communicably connected toa powertrain-system ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 70 and a body-systemECU 80 to thereby acquire from these ECUs 70 and 80, information givenas determinative factors when a screen layout of the screens to bedisplayed on each of the display devices 20, 21 is determined.

The image integration control microcomputer 100 is a controller that,among screens drawn in screen data in which screens for displaying setsof application information generated by the application units 30-60 in anormal display form and screens for displaying them in a simplifieddisplay form are both drawn, selects for the application informationmatched to an intended-use of each of the display devices 20, 21, thescreen for displaying in the normal display form, and selects for theapplication information unmatched to the intended-use of each of thedisplay devices 20, 21, the screen for displaying in the simplifieddisplay form, followed by controlling to cause the image integrationprocessor 110 to extract from the screen data, each screen data in whicheach of the selected screens is drawn and to generate based on theextracted screen data, display-screen data for each display device.

Note that the application units 30-60 may separately generate screendata in which the screens for displaying the sets of applicationinformation in the normal display form are drawn and screen data inwhich the screens for displaying the sets of application information inthe simplified display form are drawn.

In this case, among the screen data in which the screens for displayingthe sets of application information generated by the application units30-60 in the normal display form are drawn and the screen data in whichthe screens for displaying the sets of application information in thesimplified display form are drawn, the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 selects for the application information matched to theintended-use of each of the display devices 20, 21, screen data in whichthe screen for displaying in the normal display form is drawn, andselects for the application information unmatched to the intended-use ofeach of the display devices 20, 21, screen data in which the screen fordisplaying in the simplified display form is drawn, followed bycontrolling based on these selected screen data to cause the imageintegration processor 110 to generate the display-screen data for eachdisplay device.

In the followings, description will be made about a case where theapplication units 30-60 generate the screen data in which the screensfor displaying the sets of application information in the normal displayform and the screens for displaying them in the simplified display formare both drawn, and the image integration processor 110 extracts fromthe screen data, the screens selected by the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 to thereby generate the display-screen data.

The image integration processor 110 is an image processor that inputsthe screen data in which drawn are the respective screens for displayingboth in the normal display form (screens for normal display) and in thesimplified display form (screens for simplified display) the sets ofapplication information obtained through processing of the respectiveapplications by the application units 30-60, to thereby generate thescreen data for each of the display devices 20, 21 using the screen datain which these screens are drawn. Note that, as described previously,the image integration processor 110 may separately input the screen datain which the screens for displaying the sets of application informationgenerated by the application units 30-60 in the normal display form aredrawn and the screen data in which the screens for displaying the setsof application information in the simplified display form are drawn, tothereby generate the display-screen data for each display device, usingthe screen data in which the screens for displaying in the normaldisplay form are drawn and the screen data in which the screen fordisplaying in the simplified display form are drawn.

Further, in the image integration processor 110, an image capture memory110 a is provided. The image capture memory 110 a has an image-capturingarea for storing respective screen data inputted respectively from theapplication units 30-60, and further has, for each of the displaydevices 20, 21, a frame buffer area that stores for every frame unit thedisplay-screen data generated by the image integration processor 110.

For example, as a hardware configuration, the image integrationprocessor 110 is configured with an image input unit, a writing/readingunit, an image enlarging/reducing and overlapping unit, a renderingfunction unit, and a microcomputer-controlled interface. Here, the imageinput unit inputs (captures) screen data from the application units30-60. The writing/reading unit performs processing of writing thescreen data inputted by the image input unit in the image capture memory110 a and processing of reading out the screen data selected by theimage integration control microcomputer 100 from the image capturememory 110 a. The image enlarging/reducing and overlapping unit performsimage processing of enlarging or reducing the image of the screen dataselected by the image integration control microcomputer 100 andprocessing of overlapping the images of plural screen data. Therendering function unit itself performs graphics rendering under controlof the image integration control microcomputer 100. For example, itrenders a menu screen and the like. The microcomputer-controlledinterface is an interface that relays data transfer between the imageintegration control microcomputer 100 and the image integrationprocessor 110.

The display output controller 120 is hardware that generates and outputsimage signals and vertical/horizontal synchronizing signals to bematched to each interface of the display devices 20, 21, and is adisplay output driver that causes the display-screen data generated bythe image integration processor 110 to be outputted to and displayed ona corresponding display device. For example, the display outputcontroller 120 reads out the display-screen data from the frame bufferarea in the image capture memory 110 a, to thereby output it to thecorresponding display device.

The display device 20 is configured by use of an LCD monitor, etc.placed in the instrument panel of the vehicle, and is a display devicehaving an intended-use of presenting information related to the vehicletraveling condition to the driver. That is, the target user to watch thedisplay device 20 is the driver.

Examples of the information related to the vehicle traveling conditioninclude, for example, a vehicle speed, an engine revolution number, agear position, a travel distance, a fuel residual amount, a winkerdisplay, a warning display and the like. Further, as a configurationassociated with the display device 20, there is provided an operationsystem 200 for performing operation on the basis of the display screenof the display device 20. Examples of the operation system 200 include,for example, a remote controller mounted on a steering wheel, and thelike.

The display device 21 is configured by use of an LCD monitor, etc.placed at the center of the front side of the front seat in the vehicle,and is a display device having an intended-use of presenting carnavigation information, AV information and sensor-detected informationindicative of vehicle periphery information, to the driver or the fellowpassenger on the assistant driver's seat. That is, the target user towatch the display device 21 is the fellow passenger on the assistantdriver's seat, or the driver when the vehicle is stopping.

Note that examples of the car-navigation information include a peripherymap of the host vehicle and route guide information.

Examples of the AV information include information for audio playback,video playback and the like, and examples of the sensor-detectedinformation include a vehicle-periphery capture image captured by anin-vehicle camera.

Further, as a configuration associated with the display device 21, thereis provided an operation system 210 for performing operation on thebasis of the display screen of the display device 21. Examples of theoperation system 210 include, for example, a touch panel mounted on thescreen of the display device 21, and the like.

The meter application unit 30 is an application unit that generatesscreen data for meter-display related to the vehicle travelingcondition, and is configured with a meter application microcomputer 300and a meter-display graphic processor 310.

The meter application microcomputer 300 is a microcomputer that acquiresthe information related to the vehicle traveling condition from thepowertrain-system ECU 70, to thereby measure numerical informationrelated to the vehicle traveling condition.

The graphic processor 310 executes an application for making a meterdisplay about the numerical information related to the vehicle travelingcondition and measured by the meter application microcomputer 300, togenerate screen data in which a meter-display screen is drawn.

The car-navigation application unit 40 is an application unit thatgenerates screen data for car navigation, and is provided as a componentof a car-navigation apparatus, for example. Further, the car-navigationapplication unit 40 is configured with a car-navigation applicationmicrocomputer 400, a car-navigation graphic processor 410 and a GPS(Global Positioning System) receiver interface (I/F) 420. Thecar-navigation-application microcomputer 400 is a microcomputer thatacquires GPS information from a GPS receiver 450 through the GPSreceiver I/F 420, and reads out map data from a map database (unshown inFIG. 1), to perform navigation processing on the basis of theseinformation.

The graphic processor 410 executes an application for displayinginformation obtained from the navigation processing by thecar-navigation application microcomputer 400, to generate screen data inwhich a car-navigation screen is drawn.

The AV application unit 50 is an application unit that generates screendata for AV playback, and is configured with an AV applicationmicrocomputer 500, an AV playback graphic processor 510 and an AV unitinterface (I/F) 520.

The AV application microcomputer 500 is a microcomputer that performs,through the AV unit I/F 520, AV-playback processing about a radio tuner550, a TV tuner 551 and a DVD player 552.

The graphic processor 510 executes an application for displayinginformation obtained from the AV-playback processing by the AVapplication microcomputer 500, to generate screen data in which anAV-playback screen is drawn.

The sensor application unit 60 is an application unit that generatesscreen data for displaying sensor-detected information, and in theexample shown in FIG. 1, it generates screen data of the sensor-detectedinformation indicative of vehicle periphery information captured by thein-vehicle cameras. Further, the sensor application unit 60 isconfigured with a sensor application microcomputer 600, asensor-detected-information display graphic processor 610 and a cameraconnection interface (I/F) 620.

The sensor application microcomputer 600 is a microcomputer thatperforms analysis processing of vehicle periphery images captured by thein-vehicle cameras 650-653, through the camera connection I/F 620.

The graphic processor 610 executes an application for displaying thevehicle periphery images captured by the in-vehicle cameras 650-653 andan image analysis result by the sensor application microcomputer 600, togenerate screen data in which the vehicle periphery capture images andthe image analysis result are drawn.

Note that it is not necessarily required that the meter application unit30, the car-navigation application unit 40, the AV application unit 50and the sensor application unit 60 exist independently of each other.

For example, there may instead be provided an application unit in whichfunctions of the plurality of these application units are consolidatedinto one, thus configuring this application unit to output the screendata of the respective sets of application information such as about ameter display, a car-navigation display, an AV-playback display and/or asensor-detected information display.

The powertrain-system ECU 70 is an ECU that performs electronic controlof a power transmission mechanism of the vehicle that installs thepresent system, and retains information such as a vehicle speed, anengine revolution number, a gear position and the like.

The body-system ECU 80 is an ECU that performs electronic control ofvehicle body electronics operated by the user in the vehicle thatinstalls the present system, and retains information indicative ofconditions of a door, an air conditioner, a light, a mirror and thelike.

A communication line 900 is a communication line that communicablyconnects to each other the image integration control microcomputer 100and the microcomputers of the respective application units 30-60, and isrealized for example as a communication line for low-speed serialcommunications, I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) communications, CAN(Controller Area Network) communications or the like.

An in-vehicle communication network 901 is a communication network thatcommunicably connects to each other the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100, the microcomputers of the respective applicationunits 30-60, the powertrain-system ECU 70 and the body-system ECU 80,and is realized for example as a communication network for CANcommunications, LIN (Local Interconnect Network) communications, FlexRaycommunications or the like. Upon notified of the information retained bythe ECUs 70, 80 through the in-vehicle communication network 901, theimage integration control microcomputer 100 and the microcomputers ofthe respective application units 30-60 can recognize the vehicletraveling condition.

A communication line 902 is a communication line that communicablyconnects to each other the image integration control microcomputer 100and the operation systems 200, 210 associated with the respectivedisplay devices 20, 21, and is realized for example as a communicationline for low speed serial communications, I2C communications, CANcommunications or the like. Note that the communication line 902 isprovided as a line different to the communication line 900.

Next, the screen data generated by each of the application units 30-60will be described citing specific examples.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the screen data generated bythe meter application unit. As shown in FIG. 2, in the screen data 330for meter display generated by the meter application unit 30, a meterstandard-screen 331 and a meter sub-screen 332 are included.

The meter standard-screen 331 is a screen that displays in a normaldisplay form, respective sets of information acquired by the meterapplication microcomputer 300 from the powertrain-system ECU 70 and thebody-system ECU 80. Here, the normal display form about the meterapplication is assumed to be a display form in which the respective setsof information are displayed as an image that simulates an instrumentpanel placed in the instrument panel of general vehicles.

A speed meter display portion 331 a displays a current vehicle speed byan image of a general speed meter. A tachometer display portion 331 bdisplays a current engine revolution number (revolution speed) by animage of a general tachometer. Further, a gear display portion 331 cdisplays a character indicative of a current gear position. A traveldistance display portion 331 d displays respective values of an odometerand a trip meter as numeric values. A fuel residual amount displayportion 331 e displays a fuel residual amount by a percentage and animage. An air conditioner display portion 331 f displays a setuptemperature of an in-vehicle air conditioner by a numeric value and animage . A winker display screen 331 g displays a lighting direction of awinker by an arrow image.

The meter sub-screen 332 is a screen that displays in a simplifieddisplay form, information in the meter standard-screen 331. Here, thesimplified display form about the meter application is assumed to be adisplay form in which information related to the vehicle travelingcondition is displayed in a simplified manner using an easily-watchablecharacter or graphic.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, in the meter sub-screen 332, the vehiclespeed “50 km/h”, which is displayed in the speed meter display portion331 a, is displayed using large font characters.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 2, the screen data 330 is data resulted fromdrawing the meter standard-screen 331 and the meter sub-screen 332 on avirtual screen 333. For allowing the meter sub-screen 332 to be drawn,the virtual screen 333 is assumed to be a screen that is larger in sizethan the screen of the display device 20 placed in the instrument panel,that is, the display device with the intended-use of displayinginformation related to the vehicle traveling condition. The shadedportion in FIG. 2 is a blank display, showing an area with nothingdrawn.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the screen data generated bythe car-navigation application unit. As in FIG. 3, in the screen data430 for car navigation display generated by the car-navigationapplication unit 40, a car-navigation standard-screen 431 andcar-navigation sub-screens 432, 433 are included.

The car-navigation standard-screen 431 is a screen that displays in anormal display form, information obtained from navigation processingexecuted by the car-navigation application microcomputer 400 on thebasis of the GPS information acquired from the GPS receiver 450 and themap data readout from the map database.

Here, the normal display form about the car navigation application isassumed to be a display form in which, as shown in FIG. 3, a peripherymap of the host vehicle is displayed with an guide route 431 a and ahost-vehicle position mark 431 b overlapped on the screen of that map.The guide route 431 a is a guide route having been searched by thecar-navigation application microcomputer 400, and the host-vehicleposition mark 431 b is a mark indicative of a host-vehicle positionbased on the GPS information.

The car-navigation sub-screens 432, 433 are each a screen that displaysin a simplified display form, information in the car-navigationstandard-screen 431. Here, the simplified display form about the carnavigation application is assumed to be a display form in which theroute guide information is displayed in a simplified manner using aneasily-watchable character or graphic.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the host vehicle is going to beturned to the left at an intersection placed 300 meters ahead accordingto the route guide information, in the car-navigation sub-screen 432,there is expressed “a situation of having to turn to the left at 300meters ahead” using a character and an arrow graphic, and in thecar-navigation sub-screen 433, there is provided a display only bycharacters as “300 m Ahead, XX Intersection, Turn Left”.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 3, the screen data 430 is data resulted fromdrawing the car-navigation standard-screen 431 and the car-navigationsub-screens 432, 433 on a virtual screen 434. For allowing thecar-navigation sub-screens 432, 433 to be drawn, the virtual screen 434is assumed to be a screen that is larger in size than the screen of thedisplay device 21 placed at the center of the front side of the frontseat, that is, the display device having the intended-use of presentingthe car navigation information, the AV information and the vehicleperiphery information. The shaded portion in FIG. 3 is a blank display,showing an area with nothing drawn.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the screen data generated bythe AV application unit. As shown in FIG. 4, in the screen data 530 forAV playback generated by the AV application unit 50, an AV applicationstandard-screen 531 and AV application sub-screens 532, 533 areincluded.

The AV application standard-screen 531 is a screen that displays in anormal display form, information related to an audio that the AVapplication microcomputer 500 plays back by executing an AV playbackapplication. Here, the normal display form about the AV application isassumed to be a display form in which a general audio-playback operationscreen is displayed as shown in FIG. 4.

The AV application sub-screens 532, 533 are each a screen that displaysin a simplified display form, information in the AV applicationstandard-screen 531. Here, the simplified display form about the AVapplication is assumed to be a display form in which information about aplayback-target AV is displayed in a simplified manner using aneasily-watchable character or graphic. in the example shown in FIG. 4,in the AV application sub-screen 532, a menu about the playback-targetsongs included in an audio album is displayed by characters, and in theAV application sub-screen 533, a menu about the target AV application (aradio, a television, a DVD, etc.) is displayed by characters.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 4, the screen data 530 is data resulted fromdrawing the AV application standard-screen 531 and the AV applicationsub-screens 532, 533 on a virtual screen 534. For allowing the AVapplication sub-screens 532, 533 to be drawn, the virtual screen 534 isassumed to be a screen that is larger in size than the screen of thedisplay device 21 placed at the center of the front side of the frontseat, that is, the display device having the intended-use of presentingthe car navigation information, the AV information and the vehicleperiphery information. The shaded portion in FIG. 4 is a blank display,showing an area with nothing drawn.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the screen data generated bythe sensor application unit. As shown in FIG. 5, in the screen data 630used for displaying sensor-detected information and generated by thesensor application unit 60, a sensor application standard-screen 631 andsensor application sub-screens 632, 633 are included.

The sensor application standard-screen 631 is a screen that displays ina normal display form, vehicle-periphery capture images captured by thein-vehicle cameras 650-653 and host-vehicle periphery informationdetected by analyzing the capture images by the sensor applicationmicrocomputer 600.

Here, the normal display form about the sensor application is assumed tobe a display form in which screens 631 a-631 d including the respectiveimages captured by the in-vehicle cameras 650-653 and the host-vehicleperiphery information obtained by analyzing them, are displayed as shownin FIG. 5.

For example, when, by the image analysis, a situation is found in whicha left rear vehicle captured in the image screen 631 c of the left sidecamera is approaching to the host vehicle, the former vehicle ishighlighted or a warning message is displayed in the image screen 631 cof the left side camera.

The sensor application sub-screens 632, 633 are each a screen thatdisplay in a simplified display form, information in the sensorapplication standard-screen 631. Here, the simplified display form aboutthe sensor application is assumed to be a display form in which thesensor-detected information detected by analyzing the capture images isdisplayed in a simplified manner using an easily-watchable character orgraphic.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, in the sensor application sub-screen632, an image analysis result that the left rear vehicle is approachingto the host vehicle is displayed by characters and a graphic, and in thesensor application sub-screen 633, a warning sign about a speed limitdetected by the front camera is displayed by characters and a graphic.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 5, the screen data 630 is data resulted fromdrawing the sensor application standard-screen 631 and the sensorapplication sub-screens 632, 633 on a virtual screen 634. For allowingthe sensor application sub-screens 632, 633 to be drawn, the virtualscreen 634 is assumed to be a screen that is larger in size than thescreen of the display device 21 placed at the center of the front sideof the front seat, that is, the display device having the intended-useof presenting the car navigation information, the AV information and thesensor-detected information. The shaded portion in FIG. 5 is a blankdisplay, showing an area with nothing drawn.

The respective screen data 330-630 shown in FIGS. 2-5 are inputted asimage signals in the image integration processor 110 of the imageintegration unit 10 from the respective application units 30-60. At thistime, information related to the screens drawn in each of the screendata 330-630 is notified to the image integration control microcomputer100 through the communication line 900 from each of the dedicatedmicrocomputers 300-600 of the application units 30-60. Based on thenotified information, the image integration control microcomputer 100controls to cause the image integration processor 110 to extract thescreens matched to the intended-uses of the display devices 20, 21 fromthe respective screen data 330-630.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a communication format of thescreen-display information transmitted from the application unit to theimage integration control microcomputer. Further, FIG. 7 is a diagramshowing the screen data of FIG. 2 and sizes of respective screenstherein.

As shown in FIG. 6, the communication format is configured as datastrings on a two-byte basis.

Further, in the communication format, there is each set: data indicativeof application-screen display information as a communication commandtype; a communication data size on the communication format; an addressof the communication-destination microcomputer (image integrationcontrol microcomputer 100); and addresses of the communication-sourcemicrocomputers (the microcomputers 300-600 corresponding to theapplication units). Furthermore, sets of information of the screensactually drawn in the screen data 330-630 are set therein.

For example, in the case of the screen data 330 shown in FIG. 7, thetotal screen size is given as a number of lateral pixels of 1920 and anumber of vertical pixels of 1080.

Further, since the meter standard-screen 331 and the meter sub-screen332 are drawn in the screen data 330 shown in FIG. 7, there is set “2”as a number of internal display screens in the communication formatshown in FIG. 6. In the subsequent data strings, respective sets ofdetailed information about these two screens are set. Here, when themeter standard-screen 331 is defined as “Internal Display Screen 1” inFIG. 6, in “Internal Display Screen 1 - Type/ID”, a value to distinguishbetween the standard-screen and the sub-screen is set for “Type” and avalue capable of identifying respective these screens and furtheridentifying the application units that generate these screens, is setfor “ID”.

For example in the case of the meter standard-screen 331 in FIG. 7, in“Internal Display Screen 1 - Size”, there are set a number of lateralpixels of 1600 and a number of vertical pixels of 800.

Further, in “Internal Display Screen 1 - Display Position”, there is seta lateral pixel position of “0” and a vertical pixel position of “0”.

In “Internal Display Screen 1 - Display Content”, there is set, forexample, information of a screen display format or informationindicative of a display priority in the meter application unit 30. Notethat information about “Internal Display Screen 2” (here, metersub-screen 332) is also set in a similar manner.

Note that the screen display format is a display format exemplified byan analog meter-display format/digital meter-display format, and adisplay format for partially displaying the meter display information ina simplified manner (digital display of the speed).

Further, the display priority indicates, for each general meter display(speed, engine revolution number, shift information, etc.) or eachwarning display based on the vehicle information, its degree of impacton safety during traveling unless otherwise immediately notified to thedriver.

The respective screen data 330-630 from the respective application units30-60 are inputted in the image integration processor 110 in the imageintegration unit 10 and are written in the image capture memory 110 a inthe image integration processor 110. At the time of completion ofwriting these screen data on a single frame basis, the image integrationcontrol microcomputer 100 selects the screens to be displayed on thedisplay devices 20, 21 on the basis of the screen-display information asshown in FIG. 6 having been notified from the application units 30-60,and indicates them to the image integration processor 110.

Namely, based on the address of the communication-source microcomputer(address of the microcomputer dedicated to each application) that is anidentifier for identifying a communication-source application andincluded in the screen-display information, the image integrationcontrol microprocessor 100 determines from what application unit thescreen-display information has been transmitted.

Then, referring to an intended-use correspondence list, the imageintegration control microcomputer 100 determines whether applicationinformation is the application information matched to the intended-useof each display device or the application information unmatched to theintended-use of the display device.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 8, the intended-use correspondence list isdata showing for every display device whether or not each application ismatched to the intended-use of the display device. In FIG. 8, “o” markindicates the application information matched to the intended-use and“x” mark indicates the application information unmatched to theintended-use.

According to the indication from the image integration controlmicroprocessor 100, the image integration processor 110 extracts thescreens from the screen data written in the image capture memory 110 a.

The screens extracted to be displayed on the display device 20 and thescreens extracted to be displayed on the display device 21 (hereinafter,each called as extracted screens, when appropriate) are copied,according to a screen layout determined for each display device by theimage integration control microcomputer 100, into the areascorresponding to the positions in the frame buffer areas for the displaydevices at which the extracted screens are to be displayed. Note thatthe frame buffer area may be formed in a partial area of the imagecapture memory 110 a.

When the extracted screens are to be copied into the frame buffer area,if the size of the area for drawing in the frame buffer and the size ofeach of the extracted screens are different to each other, the imageintegration control microcomputer 100 instructs the image integrationprocessor 110 to enlarge or reduce the extracted screen according to thedifference therebetween. This causes the image integration processor 110to copy the extracted screen after processing it according to theinstruction from the image integration control microprocessor 100, intothe frame buffer area. This makes it possible to properly make a screenlayout using the extracted screens.

After completion of copying all screens necessary for screen layoutdisplay, the image integration control microcomputer 100 instructs thedisplay output controller 120 to read out the display-screen data fromthe respective frame buffer areas for the display devices 20, 21.

The display output controller 120 transmits these display-screen dataread out from the frame buffer areas, as image signals in which clockand synchronization signals are added in conformity with respectivesignal interfaces of the display devices, to the display devices 20, 21to be displayed thereon.

The processing described up to the above is performed repeatedly forevery one frame.

The image integration control microcomputer 100 manages a screen drawingstate in each of the frame buffer areas corresponding to the displaydevices 20, 21, that is, a display state of each screen on the displaydevices 20, 21.

Then, the image integration control microcomputer 100 notifies themicrocomputers 300-600 in the application units 30-60 about displaystates of the screens on the display devices 20, 21 as screen-displayinformation, through the communication line 900. Based on thescreen-display information, the microcomputers 300-600 can recognize howthe screen data 330-630 outputted by themselves are displayed on thedisplay devices 20, 21.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a communication format of thescreen-display information transmitted from the image integrationcontrol microcomputer to the application unit. Here, similar to in FIG.6, the communication format is configured as data strings on a two-bytebasis. In the communication format, as shown in FIG. 9, there is eachset: data indicative of display information as a communication commandtype for the display device; a communication data size on thecommunication format; addresses of the communication-destinationmicrocomputers (the microcomputers 300-600 dedicated to the respectiveapplication units); and an address of the communication sourcemicrocomputer (image integration control microcomputer 100).Furthermore, there is sequentially set display information of respectivescreens actually displayed on each of the display devices 20, 21.

In the display information, there is each set: a number of screens usedin the display screen among the screens drawn in the screen data 330-630outputted by the respective application units 30-60; a display devicenumber for identifying the display device that displays the screen; aninternal display screen ID of the application unit in use for thedisplay screen; a display size and a display position on the screen ofthe display device.

Next, processing of determining a screen layout by the image integrationcontrol microcomputer 100 will be described.

From among the screens drawn in the screen data outputted from therespective application units 30-60, the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 extracts for the application information matched tothe intended-use of the display device, the screen for displaying in thenormal display form, and extracts for the application informationunmatched to the intended-use of the display device, the screen fordisplaying in the simplified display form, to thereby determine a screenlayout including these screens.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image integrationcontrol microcomputer. The image integration control microcomputer 100receives the screen-display information from the respective applicationunits 30-60 (Step ST100). Then, referring to the screen-displayinformation, the image integration control microcomputer 100 selects forevery display device the application information to be displayed thereon(Step ST101).

Referring to the intended-use correspondence list, the image integrationcontrol microcomputer 100 determines whether or not the selectedapplication information is matched to an intended-use of the displaydevice (Step ST102).

In the case of the application information matched to the intended-useof the display device (Step ST102; YES), the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 selects for this application information, screen datafor displaying in the normal display form (Step ST103). For example, inthe case of the screen data in which screens in the normal display formand screens in the simplified display form are both drawn, the imageintegration control microcomputer 100 selects screen data in which thescreen in the normal display form is drawn among these screens drawn inthe screen data.

In contrast, in the case of the application information unmatched tothe-intended use of the display device (Step ST102; NO), the imageintegration control microcomputer 100 selects for this applicationinformation the image data for displaying in the simplified display form(Step ST104). For example, in the case of the screen data in whichscreens in the normal display form and screens in the simplified displayform are both drawn, the image integration control microcomputer 100selects screen data in which the screen in the simplified display formis drawn among these screens drawn in the screen data.

Thereafter, the image integration microcomputer 100 determines whetherthe above determination has been made for all of the applicationinformation selected for every display device (Step ST105).

If there is the application information not yet subjected to the abovedetermination (Step ST105; NO), the flow is returned to Step ST102 torepeat the above processing.

Further, when the above determination was made for all of theapplication information (Step ST105; YES), the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 transmits its selection result to the imageintegration processor 110 (Step ST106) . This causes the imageintegration processor 110 to extract the screens of the selection resultfrom among the screens drawn in the screen data.

For example, the display device 20 which is placed in the instrumentpanel and whose target to be watched is the driver, is a display devicewith the intended-use of performing the meter display about informationrelated to the vehicle traveling condition. The image integrationcontrol microcomputer 100 determines the screens to be extracted,according to the intended-use preset for every display device.

In the case of the display device 20, for the application information(the meter display information) of the meter application unit 30, ascreen that displays it in the normal display form as shown in FIG. 2 isselected as a screen to be extracted. For the application information ofthe other application units 40-60 than the meter application unit 30, ascreen that displays it in the simplified display form is selected as ascreen to be extracted.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen output of thedisplay device placed in the instrument panel, in which shown is a caseof displaying on the display device 20 a screen including themeter-display screen and the car navigation screen. The display screenin FIG. 11 is given with a screen layout in which the car-navigationsub-screen 432 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed as being overlapped on themeter standard-screen 331 shown in FIG. 2. On the display device 20placed in the instrument panel, while watching the meter display aboutinformation related to the host-vehicle traveling condition in thenormal display form, the driver can also watch the route guideinformation indicating the situation of turning to the left at 300meters ahead, in the simplified display form using the arrow. Thisallows the driver to properly understand meter information necessary fordriving, and further to understand the route guide informationinstantly, resulting in without getting distracted from driving.

Further, the image integration control microcomputer 100 controls tocause the image integration processor 110 to extract a screen of theapplication information specified by a user operation among the sets ofapplication information unmatched to the intended-use of the displaydevice 20 (sets of application information of the application units40-60). For example, using a remote controller mounted on the steeringwheel, or the like, the driver specifies the route guide information asthe information to be displayed on the display device 20. Upon receivingthis user operation, the image integration control microcomputer 100selects the route guide information as the information to be displayed,and the image integration processor 110 extracts a screen for displayingthe selected information in a simplified manner. This allows theinformation desired by the user to be displayed on his/her desireddisplay device, thus making it possible to achieve improving theusability of the present system.

The user operation is not limited to an operation by the driver who isthe target to watch the display device 20, and may be that by a fellowpassenger on the assistant driver's seat who is the target to watch thedisplay device 21.

For example, the fellow passenger operates the touch panel (operationsystem 210) mounted on the display device 21 to instruct the imageintegration control microcomputer 100 to display on the display panel 20the route guide information displayed on the display device 21. Inresponse thereto, the image integration control microcomputer 100controls to cause the image integration processor 110 to extract ascreen for displaying the route guide information in a simplified manner(car-navigation sub-screen 432), to thereby display on the displaydevice 20 the display screen with a screen layout including the abovescreen.

The touch operation on the display device 21 may be a simple operationsuch as by dragging the guide route 431 a on the touch surface towardthe display device 20, or may also be an operation such as by depressingan icon corresponding to the display device 20.

Further, depending on the vehicle traveling condition, the imageintegration control microcomputer 100 may select the information to bedisplayed on the display device 20 among the sets of applicationinformation unmatched to the intended-use of the display device 20.

For example, the route guide information is pre-set to be displayed,during traveling of the vehicle, in the simplified display form inaddition to the meter display.

Furthermore, when a warning becomes necessary based on thesensor-detected information, the warning based on the sensor-detectedinformation may be displayed on the display device 20.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the display screen of the displaydevice 20 is given with a screen layout in which the car-navigationsub-screen 632 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed as being overlapped on themeter standard-screen 331 shown in FIG. 2. The driver, even in thiscase, can properly understand meter information necessary for driving,and can further understand the warning content based on thesensor-detected information instantly.

Note that in the above case, the display priorities are included in thescreen-display information transmitted from each of the applicationunits 30-60 to the image integration microcomputer 100, and the displaypriorities each indicates, for each general meter display (speed, enginerevolution number, shift information, etc.) or each warning displaybased on the vehicle information, its degree of impact on safety duringtraveling unless otherwise immediately notified to the driver.

Thus, the image integration control microcomputer 100 may determine theapplication information to be displayed on each display device, on thebasis of this display priority and whether or not the applicationinformation is matched to the intended-use of the display device.

Furthermore, although, when the vehicle is traveling, the meter displayinformation matched to the intended-use of the display device 20 isdisplayed in the normal display form (meter standard-screen 331), whenthe vehicle is not traveling (stopping), the meter display informationmay not be displayed, or a screen for making the meter display in thesimplified display form may be applied while displaying the applicationinformation unmatched to the intended-use of the display device 20 inthe normal display form. Namely, the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 generates when the vehicle is traveling, thedisplay-screen data with a screen layout including a screen thatdisplays the application information matched to the intended-use of thedisplay device 20 in the normal display form, and generates when thevehicle is not traveling, the display-screen data with a screen layoutnot including the screen that displays the application informationmatched to the intended-use of the display device 20, or including ascreen that displays said application information in the simplifieddisplay form as well as including a screen that displays the applicationinformation unmatched to the intended-use of the display device 20 inthe normal display form.

When the vehicle is stopping and thus it is not necessary to present ameter display about a vehicle speed, etc. to the driver, acar-navigation operation screen is displayed on the display device 20 inthe normal display form, for example. This allows the driver to performa car navigation operation on the basis of the operation screen withoutlooking away from the display device 20. Further, because the carnavigation screen is displayed in the normal display form, operabilityis ensured also on the display device 20.

In this manner, even on the display device 20 with the intended-userelated to the vehicle traveling condition, if the vehicle is nottraveling, it is possible to display the application information otherthan that for the intended-use in a well-visible manner.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen output of thedisplay device placed at the center of the front side of the front seat,in which shown is a case where a screen including a car navigationscreen and a screen of capture images by in-vehicle sensors is displayedon the display device 21. The display screen in FIG. 13 is given with alayout in which the car-navigation standard-screen 431 shown in FIG. 3and the sensor application standard-screen 631 shown in FIG. 5 aredisplayed side by side.

The display device 21 placed at the center of the front side of thefront seat is a display device having the intended-use of presenting thecar navigation information, the AV information and the vehicle peripheryinformation. By thus configuring the screen layout, the fellow passengeron the assistant driver's seat can watch, on the display device 21, thecapture images of the host-vehicle periphery in the normal display formwhile watching the route guide on the display screen of the map.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen output of thedisplay device placed at the center of the front side of the front seat,in which shown is a case where a screen including the AV-playbackscreen, the car navigation screen and the vehicle-speed informationscreen is displayed on the display device 21. The display screen in FIG.14 is given with a layout in which the meter application sub-screen 332shown in FIG. 2, the car-navigation standard-screen 431 shown in FIG. 3and the AV application standard-screen 531 shown in FIG. 4 aredisplayed. The fellow passenger on the assistant driver's seat canunderstand on the display device 21 placed at the center of the frontside of the front seat, the situation of the host vehicle to be turnedto the left at 300 meters ahead, from the guide route 431 a on the mapscreen and the car-navigation sub-screen 433, and can further executesthe AV-playback processing on the basis of the AV applicationstandard-screen 531. In addition, based on the meter applicationsub-screen 332, the current vehicle speed can be watched.

When the fellow passenger on the assistant driver's seat is going toconfirm the current vehicle speed of the host vehicle, it is easier towatch the vehicle speed when it is displayed on the display device 21than when he/she looks deep into the display device 20 placed in theinstrument panel.

In this case, the fellow passenger on the assistant driver's seat is notrequired to know a transition of the vehicle traveling condition inresponse to the driving operation by the driver, and is only required toconfirm a value of the vehicle speed at that time. The display screenshown in FIG. 14 can meet such a need of the fellow passenger.

Meanwhile, description will be made about a case where the applicationinformation to be displayed on the display device 21 is determined amongsets of application information matched to a plurality of the respectiveusages.

In this case, the image integration control microcomputer 100 maydetermine as the application information to be displayed, one selectedby a user from a menu setup screen (a screen drawn by the imageintegration unit 10 itself) using the operation system.

Note that, other than by such a user setting as described above, theapplication information to be displayed on the display device 21 may beselected depending on a using state of the application, a gear position(for example, when the gear is in the back position, a rearward image isdisplayed), and/or a content of the application information (forexample, when an obstruction is detected to exist in the periphery fromthe sensor-detected information (camera image), the sensor-detectedinformation or the like is preferentially displayed).

Further, in the display control system according to Embodiment 1, when atouch panel is mounted on the screen of the display device shown in FIG.14, it is possible to properly notify the corresponding application unitof its touch information.

As described previously, from the drawing state in the frame buffermemory of the display device 21, the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 manages as a display state on the display device 21,what position and what size each screen is displayed in on the screen ofthe display device 21 and what application unit generated the screen.

As shown in FIG. 14, when a user A makes a touch operation at theposition of an operation button displayed in the AV applicationstandard-screen 531, a touched coordinate position thereby is notifiedby the operation system 210 to the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 through the communication line 902.

The image integration control microcomputer 100 collates the displaystate on its managing display device 21 with the touched coordinateposition notified from the operation system 210, to thereby determinethat the screen subjected to the touch operation is the screen generatedby the AV application unit 50. Thereafter, the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 notifies the AV application microcomputer 500 aboutthe touched coordinate position and the screen-display information shownin FIG. 9 through the communication line 900.

Based on the touched coordinate position and the screen-displayinformation notified from the image integration control microcomputer100, the AV application microcomputer 500 determines what operationbutton is operated in the screen generated by its own graphic processor510 followed by executing processing corresponding to the operationbutton of the determination result. In the case of FIG. 14, the audiobeing played back will be rewound.

Note that, with respect to a touch operation made in the car-navigationstandard-screen 431 displayed on the display device 21, in a mannerdescribed above, the image integration control microcomputer 100determines that a touch operation is made in the screen generated by thecar-navigation application unit 40. In this case, the touched coordinateposition and the screen-display information are notified to thecar-navigation application microcomputer 400 but not notified to the AVapplication microcomputer 500.

As described above, according to Embodiment 1, it comprises: the imageintegration processor 110 that inputs the screen data in which thescreens for displaying the sets of application information generated bythe application units 30-60 in a normal display form are drawn, and thescreen data in which the screens for displaying the sets of applicationinformation in a simplified display form are drawn, to thereby generatedisplay-screen data for each display device, using the screen data inwhich the screens for displaying in the normal display form are drawnand the screen data in which the screens for displaying in thesimplified display form are drawn; the display output controller 120that outputs the display-screen data generated by the image integrationprocessor 110 to the corresponding display device to be displayedthereon; and the image integration control microcomputer 100 that, amongthese screen data, selects for the application information matched tothe intended-use of the display device, screen data in which the screenfor displaying in the normal display form is drawn, and selects for theapplication information unmatched to the intended-use of the displaydevice, screen data in which the screen for displaying in the simplifieddisplay form is drawn, followed by controlling based on these selectedscreen data to cause the image integration processor 110 to generate thedisplay-screen data for said each display device. By providing such aconfiguration, it is possible to present the information in a displayform well-suited to the target user watching each of the display devices20, 21.

Alternatively, according to Embodiment 1, the image integrationprocessor 110 inputs the screen data in which the screens for displayingthe sets of application information generated by the application units30-60 in the normal display form and the screens for displaying them inthe simplified display form are both drawn, to thereby generate thedisplay-screen data for each display device using the screen data; andamong these screens drawn in the screen data, the image integrationcontroller 100 selects for the application information matched to theintended-use of the display device, the screen for displaying in thenormal display form, and selects for the application informationunmatched to the intended-use of the display device, the screen fordisplaying in the simplified display form, followed by controlling tocause the image integration processor 110 to extract from the screendata, each screen data in which each of the selected screens is drawnand to generate based on the extracted screen data, the display-screendata for said each display device. This also makes it possible topresent the information in a display form well-suited to the target userwatching each of the display devices 20, 21.

Furthermore, according to Embodiment 1, the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 selects the screen data in which drawn is the screenof the application information specified by a user operation among thesets of application information unmatched to the intended-use of each ofthe display device 20, 21. This allows the information desired by theuser to be displayed on his/her desired display device, thus making itpossible to achieve improving the usability of the present system.

Furthermore, according to Embodiment 1, with respect to the displaydevice 20 with the intended-use related to the vehicle travelingcondition, the image integration control microcomputer 100 selects, whenthe vehicle is traveling, the screen data in which the screen fordisplaying the application information matched to the intended-use ofthe display device 20 in the normal display form is drawn; and when thevehicle is not traveling, does not select the screen data in which thescreen for displaying the application information matched to theintended-use of the display device 20 in the normal display form isdrawn, or selects the screen data in which the screen for displaying theapplication information matched to the intended-use of the displaydevice 20 in the simplified display form is drawn and the screen data inwhich the screen for displaying the application information unmatched tothe intended-use of the display device 20 in the normal display form isdrawn. This allows, even on the display device 20 with the intended-userelated to the vehicle traveling condition, the application informationother than that for the intended-use to be displayed in a well-visiblemanner, if the vehicle is not traveling.

Furthermore, according to Embodiment 1, the application units 30-60transmit to the image integration control microcomputer 100screen-display information including, for every screen, a typeindicative of its display form, a display position of the screen and asize of the screen, and the image integration control microcomputer 100selects the screen data on the basis of the screen-display information.This makes it possible to properly perform extraction of the screen fromthe screen data.

Furthermore, according to Embodiment 1, the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100 manages each display state of the selected screen dataon the display device, and notifies each of the application units 30-60about the display state of the screen data generated by said each of theapplication units 30-60. Thus, it is possible even in the applicationunits 30-60 to recognize how the screens generated by themselves aredisplayed on the display devices 20, 21. For example, in the case wherea touch panel is employed as the operation system of the display device21, a size of the screen drawn by the application unit is different to adisplay size on the display device. Thus, with respect the screen sizeand the display position, the operation information of the touch panelis required to be converted. In this respect, notifying of the displaystate of the screen as described above, allows the operation informationof the touch panel to be converted to the screen size and the displayposition handled by the application unit.

Furthermore, according to Embodiment 1, the image integration processor110 generates the display-screen data by image-processing the screens ofthese screen data selected by the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100, so that the screen layout can be provided properlyusing the extracted screens.

Furthermore, according to Embodiment 1, it is determined of whatapplication unit the screen was touched, by collating among the screensmaking up the display-screen of each of the display devices 20, 21, thescreen corresponding to a touch coordinate position in the touch panelprovided on each of the display devices 20, 21, followed by transmittingthe touch information to that application unit. This allows the touchinformation to be notified properly to the corresponding applicationunit.

Embodiment 2.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display controlsystem according to Embodiment 2 of the invention. As shown in FIG. 15,in the display control system according to Embodiment 2, an imageintegration unit 10A is configured with an image transmission processor130 in place of the display output controller 120 shown in FIG. 1. Theimage transmission processor 130 is a display output driver that readsout the display-screen data for the display devices 20, 21 generated bythe image integration processor 110, from the frame buffer areas on asingle frame basis, and transmits them using high-speed serialcommunications to image transmission receivers 130 a, 130 b mounted inthe display devices 20, 21. Further, the image transmission receivers130 a, 130 b are each a transmission receiver that extracts to outputthe display-image data corresponding to its own display device from theserial communication signal received from the image transmissionprocessor 130. Note that in FIG. 15, the same reference numerals aregiven for the same configuration elements in FIG. 1, so that descriptiontherefor is omitted here.

The image transmission processor 130 reads out the display-screen datafor the display devices 20, 21 from the frame buffer areas on a singleframe basis, converts them into communication packets as shown in FIG.16, and then transmits them to the image transmission receivers 130 a,130 b using high speed serial communications with a frequency rangeexceeding that of the all image signals.

From header information in the communication packet data shown in FIG.16, the image transmission receivers 130 a, 130 b recognize them to becommunication signals of image data, to thereby extract only packets oftheir corresponding image data 150 a, 150 b for display devices followedby outputting them to the display devices 20, 21 in conformity with thetiming of the interface of each display device, to be displayed thereon.

Further, in the high-speed serial communications, a frequency range thatpermits signal transmission from the operation systems 200, 210 of thedisplay devices 20, 21 to the image integration control microcomputer100, is allocated in a time divisional manner to the image transmissionreceivers 130 a, 130 b so that they transmit, instead of thecommunication line 902 in FIG. 1, the operation information of theoperation systems 200, 210 to the image integration controlmicrocomputer 100.

In this case, the image integration control microcomputer 100 extractsfrom the data shown in FIG. 16, only packets of operation-system signals151 a, 151 b indicative of the operation information of the operationsystems 200, 210, followed by performing their corresponding processing.For example, it performs processing as described with FIG. 14, thuscausing each application unit to execute the corresponding processing.

As described above, according to Embodiment 2, it includes the imagetransmission receivers 130 a, 130 b each provided to each of the displaydevices 20, 21 and extracting the display image data corresponding toits own display device from the received serial communication signal soas to output them, wherein the display transmission processor 130 makesserial communications with the image transmission receivers 130 a, 130 band the image integration control microcomputer 100.

Even by providing such a configuration, it is possible to present theinformation in a display form well-suited to the target user watchingeach of the display device 20, 21. Further, with a simple communicationconfiguration, it is possible to communicably connect between the imageintegration control microcomputer 100, the image transmission processor130 and the image transmission receivers 130 a, 130 b.

It should be noted that unlimited combination of the respectiveembodiments, modification of any configuration element in theembodiments and omission of any configuration element in the embodimentsmaybe made in the present invention without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The display control system having a plurality of display devicesaccording to the invention can present information in a display formwell-suited to the target user watching the display device, and thus, itis preferable as a display control system for in-vehicle use with aplurality of display devices mounted therein.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS and SIGNS

-   10, 10A: image integration units,-   20, 21: display devices,-   30: meter application unit,-   40: car-navigation application unit,-   50: AV application unit,-   60: sensor application unit,-   70: powertrain-system ECU,-   80: body-system ECU,-   100: image integration control microcomputer,-   110: image integration processor,-   110 a: image capture memory,-   120: display output controller,-   130: image transmission processor,-   130 a, 130 b: image transmission receivers,-   150 a, 150 b: image data for display devices,-   151 a, 151 b: operation-system signals,-   200, 210: operation systems,-   300: meter application microcomputer,-   310, 410, 510, 610: graphic processors,-   330, 430, 530, 630: screen data,-   331: meter standard-screen,-   331 a: speed meter display portion,-   331 b: tachometer display portion,-   331 c: gear display portion,-   331 d: travel distance display portion,-   331 e: fuel residual amount display portion,-   331 f: air conditioner display portion,-   331 g: winker display screen,-   332: meter sub-screen,-   333, 434, 534, 634: virtual screens,-   431: car-navigation standard-screen,-   431 a: guide route,-   431 b: host-vehicle position mark,-   432, 433: car-navigation sub-screens,-   531: AV application standard-screen,-   532, 533: AV application sub-screens,-   631: sensor application standard-screen,-   632, 633: sensor application sub-screens,-   400: car-navigation application microcomputer,-   420: GPS receiver interface (I/F),-   450: GPS receiver,-   500: AV application microcomputer,-   520: AV unit interface (I/F),-   550: radio tuner,-   551: TV tuner,-   552: DVD player,-   600: sensor application microcomputer,-   620: camera connection interface (I/F),-   650-653: cameras,-   900, 902: communication lines,-   901: in-vehicle communication network.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A display control system which displaysscreens of a plurality of application units on a plurality of displaydevices mounted in a moving object, each of the plurality of devicesbeing associated with one or more of the plurality of application unitson a basis of a particular use of each display device, comprising: animage processor that receives application screen data from the pluralityof application units, extracts, from the received application screendata, either first screen data for displaying application information ina normal display form or second screen data for displaying applicationinformation in a simplified display form, and generate display-screendata for each of the plurality of display devices, using the extractedfirst or second screen data; a controller that determines, for each ofthe plurality of display devices, whether or not available applicationinformation received from each of the plurality of application units isto be displayed in a normal display form or a simplified display formbased on whether or not each application unit is matched as being aparticular use of the display device, where available applicationinformation received from an application unit matched with the displaydevice is displayed in a normal display form and available applicationinformation received from an application unit unmatched with the displaydevice is displayed in a simplified display form such that each displaydevice has application information displayed in a normal display formand application information displayed in a simplified display form, andcontrols the image processor, based on the determination, to extract thefirst screen data for application information corresponding to aparticular use of the respective display devices and to otherwiseextract the second screen data; and a display output driver that outputsthe display-screen data generated by the image processor tocorresponding one of the display devices to be displayed thereon,wherein each of the plurality of application units includes a processorfor performing a processing function and a display processor; and theprocessor of at least some application units having a processingfunction different from the processing function of the processor ofanother application unit.
 2. The display control system of claim 1,wherein the controller selects the screen data in which the screen ofthe application information specified by a user operation among the setsof application information unmatched to the display device, is drawn. 3.The display control system of claim 1, wherein, with respect to thedisplay device matched with an application unit related to a movingcondition of the moving object, when the moving object is not moving,the controller determines that the application information fromapplication unit related to the moving condition is displayed in thesimplified display form for matched display devices, and is displayed inthe normal display form for unmatched display devices.
 4. The displaycontrol system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of application unitseach transmit to the controller, screen-display information including,for every screen, a type indicative of its display form, a displayposition of the screen and a size of the screen; and the controllerselects the screen data on the basis of the screen-display information.5. The display control system of claim 1, wherein the controller manageseach display state of these selected screen data on the display device,and notifies the application unit about the display state of the screendata generated by that application unit.
 6. The display control systemof claim 1, wherein the image processor generates the display-screendata by image-processing the screens of these screen data selected. bythe controller.
 7. The display control system of claim 1, furthercomprising transmission receivers each provided to each of the displaydevices and extracting from a received serial communication signal, thedisplay image data corresponding to said each of the display devices soas to output it to said each of the display devices, wherein the displayoutput driver and the controller make serial communications with thetransmission receivers.
 8. The display control system of claim 1,wherein the controller determines of what application unit the screenwas touched, by collating among the screens making up the display-screenof each of the display devices, the screen corresponding to a touchcoordinate position in a touch panel provided on each of the displaydevices, to thereby transmit touch information to said application unit.9. The display control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofapplication units includes at least two application units of differenttypes, the types being selected from a group consisting of a meterapplication unit, a car-navigation application unit, an AV applicationunit, and a camera image sensor application unit.